Vehicle and drive circuit unit

1. A vehicle comprising:

a motor;

a power source; and

a drive circuit unit configured to convert electric power from the power source and supply the converted electric power to the motor;

the drive circuit unit including:

a drive circuit configured to perform power conversion;

a first terminal electrically connected to the drive circuit, and which is configured to input or output electric power with respect to an exterior of the drive circuit unit via a first cable; and

a front protruding portion formed by extending a portion of a front side surface of the drive circuit unit in a forward direction in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

wherein the first terminal is disposed on the front protruding portion in an upwardly facing manner, at a more rearward position than a front end of the front protruding portion.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive circuit unit further includes:

a case in which the drive circuit is accommodated; and

a heat sink fixed to the case, and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and

wherein the front protruding portion is configured as a portion of the heat sink, the portion thereof being positioned in front of the case.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

a fastening part, in which a fastening member is disposed, is formed on the front protruding portion, the fastening member being configured to fasten the drive circuit unit to a motor housing; and

the first terminal is disposed at a more rearward position than the front end of the front protruding portion and to one side of the fastening part.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein:

the drive circuit unit further includes a second terminal connected electrically to the drive circuit, and which is configured to input or output electric power with respect to an exterior of the drive circuit unit via a second cable;

the fastening part is formed at an end of the front protruding portion in a vehicle widthwise direction; and

the second terminal is disposed in an upwardly facing manner on a rear side of the fastening part.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the drive circuit unit is fixed to a motor housing in which the motor is accommodated; and

the front end of the front protruding portion is positioned on a more rearward side than a front end of the motor housing.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein:

the drive circuit includes a DC/DC converter configured to step down a voltage from the power source;

the first cable connects an output side of the DC/DC converter to a low voltage system via the first terminal; and

the second cable connects the second terminal and the power source to each other.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive circuit unit is inclined so as to be positioned at a downward orientation heading toward a front side of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:

the motor and the drive circuit unit are arranged inside a motor room provided on a front side of the vehicle; and

the motor room is arranged between a vehicle cabin, a bonnet, and a motor frame.

9. A drive circuit unit configured to convert electric power from a power source and supply the converted electric power to a motor, the drive circuit unit comprising:

a drive circuit configured to perform power conversion;

a first terminal electrically connected to the drive circuit, and which is configured to input or output electric power with respect to an exterior of the drive circuit unit via a first cable; and

a front protruding portion formed by extending a portion of a front side surface of the drive circuit unit in a forward direction along a front-rear direction of a vehicle equipped with drive circuit unit;

wherein the first terminal is disposed on the front protruding portion in an upwardly facing manner, at a more rearward position than a front end of the front protruding portion.